UK Navy seizes missiles, equipment in raid on boat travelling from Iran

The British Navy said it raided a boat in the Gulf of Oman that was likely travelling to Yemen from Iran. The Navy said during its raid of the boat, it seized stocks of missiles and fin components for such missiles.

The Royal Navy on Thursday announced the raid of a boat in the Gulf of Oman that was likely sailing to Yemen from Iran. The Royal Navy said it seized stocks of anti-tank missiles and fins for ballistic missiles during the raid. This follows similar seizures by the French and American forces in the region as the West looks to further pressure Tehran as the United Nations found that Iran has already enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.

The latest seizure also comes amidst an international effort to end the years-long conflict that has been happening in Yemen and as Iran supplies drones to Russia in its war in Ukraine.

The raid happened on February 23 after a US reconnaissance aircraft detected a small boat sailing from Iran, with a helicopter from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster tracking it down, according to the British defense ministry. The boat attempted to enter Iran’s territorial waters but was stopped before it entered.

British troops found Russian 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, which are known in Iran as “Dehlavieh,” according to the British Navy and the US Navy’s Middle East-based 5th Fleet. Such weapons were seen in other seizures believed to be from Iran that would have been brought to Yemen. The US Navy also identified small fins that were jet vanes for medium-range ballistic missiles.

Iranian parts have helped build the missile arsenal of the Houthi rebels who took control of the country’s capital Sanaa in 2014 from Yemen’s Saudi Arabia-backed government. Tehran has denied supplying weapons to the rebels despite evidence and seizures of such weapons.

On Thursday, the United States announced additional sanctions on Iran, which now targets its petrochemical and oil sales in the latest sign of strained relations between Tehran and Washington. The new sanctions follow reports that said the US and Iran are working on a prisoner exchange deal.

“These designations underscore our continued efforts to enforce our sanctions against Iran,” said the State Department. “We will not hesitate to take action against those who try and circumvent our sanctions.”